New Build Snagging Checklist: A Room-by-Room Guide to What to Inspect

Before You Enter: External Inspection

Begin your snagging inspection outside. Many buyers focus entirely on the interior and miss significant external defects that are both costly to repair and clearly visible from the street.

Walk the full perimeter of the property. Check the **brickwork or render** for cracked mortar joints, gaps at window and door reveals, staining or efflorescence (white salt deposits indicating moisture movement), and any areas where pointing has been applied over dirt or debris rather than to clean masonry.

Inspect **window and door frames** for gaps between the frame and the surrounding masonry, incomplete caulking, paint drips on glass, damage to double-glazing units (evident as misting or condensation between panes), and smooth operation of all opening casements and handles.

Check **gutters and downpipes** are properly fixed, fall correctly towards the downpipe outlet, have no visible gaps at joints, and discharge to an appropriate drain or soakaway. Blocked or incorrectly fitted guttering is one of the most common causes of water ingress in the first two years.

Look at **driveways and paths** for cracking, uneven surfaces, drainage falls directing water towards the property rather than away from it, and poorly finished kerb-drops or dropped crossings.

Examine **garden areas** for evidence of rubble, broken glass, or construction waste buried in topsoil — a common shortcut on new build sites. If the developer has turfed, check the topsoil depth is adequate (minimum 150mm recommended).

Living Rooms, Hallways, and Stairs

In every habitable room, begin at the ceiling and work downward. Common ceiling defects include: visible nail pops in plasterboard (small circular bumps or depressions), tape joints showing through decoration at plasterboard junctions, incomplete or missing cornice, cracks at ceiling-wall junctions, and areas of uneven or missed paint.

Check **walls** for bow (use a straight edge or spirit level against the wall face — NHBC tolerances allow 5mm bow over a 2m straightedge), cracks at wall junctions and around window and door openings, incomplete or uneven plastering, paint holidays (missed spots), and misaligned or incorrectly fitted skirting boards and architraves.

Inspect **doors** by fully opening and closing each one. Common door defects include: doors that bind in the frame, gaps more than 3mm at any part of the door-to-frame junction, missing or loose ironmongery, doors that do not latch without excessive force, and misaligned hinges. Check that all fire doors (typically those between the garage, utility room, and living areas) have the correct intumescent strip fitted and self-close reliably.

**Staircases** warrant close attention. Check each tread and riser for creaks (lift and load each tread while listening), gaps between treads and risers, loose or missing handrail sections, spindles that have excessive play, and the correct baluster spacing (no gap wider than 100mm, to prevent a child's head from becoming trapped, as required by BS 5395).

Kitchen and Utility

Kitchens attract more snagging items than any other room. Check every **cabinet door and drawer** for alignment, smooth operation, missing handles, damage to carcasses or door faces, and that soft-close mechanisms (if specified) operate correctly on all items.

Inspect **worktop joints** for gaps, poor mitring at corners, and inadequate sealing at the upstand and sink cut-out. Water ingress at worktop joints causes swelling and rapid deterioration — it must be correctly sealed from day one.

Check **appliances** are properly commissioned: dishwasher runs a full cycle to completion; oven, hob, and extractor work on all settings; washing machine (if included) completes a cycle without leaking. Verify that the extractor either discharges to outside (feel for airflow at the external terminal) or recirculates through a carbon filter as specified.

Turn on every **tap** and check the flow rate, temperature (the hot side should reach adequate temperature within a reasonable time), and drainage rate. Check under every sink for leaks at supply and waste connections — these are extremely common new build defects and can cause significant damage if not caught early.

Bedrooms and Bathrooms

In **bedrooms**, repeat the ceiling and wall checks from habitable rooms above. Additionally check that any fitted wardrobe doors align and slide or swing smoothly, shelving is level, and that any TV or media outlets are positioned correctly per the sales specification.

**Bathrooms and en suites** require systematic inspection of every wet area. Check all tiles for: hollow spots (tap each tile with a coin — a drum-like sound indicates a void behind, which will eventually cause the tile to crack or delaminate), cracked tiles, grout gaps or missing grout at joints and junctions, and incomplete or poorly applied silicone sealant at bath-to-wall, shower tray-to-wall, and basin-to-wall junctions.

Run every shower for five minutes and check for leaks at the tray outlet, shower door seals, and through the wall where the supply pipes penetrate. Check that the shower door opens and closes smoothly, seals along its full height, and that the door retaining magnets (if fitted) engage properly.

Check **heated towel rails** operate on both the central heating circuit and any electric element. Check that toilets flush correctly, fill valves do not run continuously after filling, and cistern lids are not cracked or chipped.

Roof Space and Mechanics

If accessible, inspect the **roof space**. Check insulation is installed to the correct depth (minimum 270mm for loft insulation, per current building regulations), that no tiles or slates are cracked or displaced (visible as daylight from below), that any water tanks are properly lagged, and that roof structure members show no evidence of moisture or biological growth.

Test the **boiler** by running the central heating on full and checking every radiator reaches temperature. Bleed all radiators to remove air locks. Check the boiler operates correctly in hot water mode, that the flue terminal is correctly positioned and clear of any obstruction, and that the building regulations compliance certificate from the commissioning engineer is present in your property documentation.

Log all snagging items, photographs, and the developer's responses in your Property Passport UK new build passport so you have a timestamped audit trail for the duration of your NHBC or warranty coverage period.